FIRE AND GAS TECHNICIAN'S QUESTIONNAIRE

Explain the importance of Fire and Gas protection systems.

The fire and gas system in any plant is a safety system in order to safeguard the
personnel and plant and equipment the system protects personnel from toxic
gases as well as possible fire hazard .the system protects the plant from possible
fire and consequent damage . the system provides alarms in the event of potential
hazard from toxic environment or fire hazard. Further the system shuts down
plants in the event of implementing disaster such as possible fire (due to high level
of combustible gases)the system is always associated with control actions such as
trip of devices /plants. Since it is a safety system it should never be run control
action bypassed, except when the device/system is under test.

2 Name the types of sensor generally used for F& G detection.

Sieger, general monitor, draeger, detronics, crowcon, detection instruments
3

How does the combustible gas detector work? (Pellister element).

A pellister is made of P1 and P2 platinum resisters. The difference between P1 and
P2 being one of them say P1 is coated with catalytic Re agent while the other one
P2 is not treated .P1 and P2 from one arm of a bridge as shown in the diagram .
since both resistors are identical ,the resistance values of both resistors track each
other due to any variation in the ambient temperature. This two resisters are
connected to a Wheatstone bridge circuit . since P1 is coated with a catalytic re
agent , the resistance of P1 will increase in the presence of a combustible gas
P1.this causes an imbalance in the bridge circuit, this signal is a measure of the
%age LEL of the combustible gas .the process is reversible ,i , e ,the variation in
resistance bears a definite relationship to the gas and will revert to the zero
quiescent value at 0% LEL in the absence of combustible gas.

Define LEL and UEL

Lower explosive limit this is the limitation of the mixture of the combustible and air
can be ignited. The combustible cannot be ignited below the LEL,because there is not
sufficient gas to support ignition and above the UEL( upper explosive limit due to lack of
sufficient oxygen to support ignition).
5

Define Zones 0, 1 and 2 in relation to hazardous area classification

Zone 0: flammable atmosphere present continuously > 1000hrs/annum
Zone 1: flammable atmosphere present intermittently > 10 < 1000
Zone 2: flammable atmosphere present abnormally < 10 hrs/annum

What is the output of a combustible gas detector?

The variation in resistance bears a definite relationship to the %age LEL of the gas and

will revert to the zero quiescent value at 0%LEL in the absence of combustible gas.
7

Explain the working principle of an I.R. open path gas detector. What are the gases
detected by it?
Open path flammable gas detector, based on I/R absorption techniques where
hydrocarbons interfere with one of two I/R beams which are projected to a distance
reflector. The level of absorption of the measurement beam compares to the reference
beam is monitored and expressed as a value in LEL meters .this is because the
measurement could be taken over maximum distance of 300 meters.

What Is the output of an open path gas detector?

LEL meters = level of absorption of the measurement beam
Reference beam

What is meant by 1P66 & IP67?

IP 66 Enclosure ip rated as dust tight and protected against heavy seas or powerful jest
of water
IP 67 Enclosure ip rated as dust tight and protected against immersion
10

How does the toxic gas detector work?

Electro-chemical sensor, an electrolyte is used whose contact potential will very
defending on the PPM value of H2S (process being reversible ,I.e. in the presence of H2S the
potential will bear a definite relationship to the PPM value of the H2S and in the absence of
H2S the potential will revert to the zero quiescent value)
Semi contactor type of sensor the characteristics of the semi contactor varies in contact
with H2S, this is taken as a measure of the H2S,the process is reversible ,I.e., the
semiconductor characteristics bear a definite relationship to the PPM value of the H2S from 0
PPM to the full scale.the calibration procedure is the same whether the sensor is Electro
chemical type of semiconductor type.
11

Name three toxic gases.

H2S, chlorine, carbon

12 What is a UV /IR flame detector?

There is light Emanating out of any fire and the frequency spectrum of the ranges from
Ultra-violet to Infra-red.the flame detector contains a photo-Tube/Geiger Muller Tube and
when the light falls on the detector Tube gives on output that is a function of the UV-IR
coming out of the fire. This devices operate using a single unit , UV and IR are continuously
monitored and both detectors have to respond to initiate an alarm condition.

13

What is the fire area covered by a flame detector?

Ultra Violet phototube responds to radiation in the 185 to 260 nanometer region. Each flame
detector has a cone of vision usually 90 deg.
14

What is the function of O ring in a UV flame detector?

A flame detector has an optical Integrity ring known as Oi.this check the integrity of

the optics for any dirt on the glass. An optical pulse is sent periodically which gets
reflected from the ring, the circuitry checks if the return of the pulse and decides whether
the optical path for the flame is clean or not.
15

Name two different types of smoke detector. How can they be tested?
Ionization type:
Electrode A is treated with a very level of radiation material and a potential is

applied between electrodes A and B. on account of radiation air between the electrodes A
and B is ionized and ionization current flow between the electrodes .in the presence of
smoke between the electrodes the ionization current varies and thus the smoke is sensed .
the output from the electrodes is fed to an electronics amplifier and a Schmitt trigger which
will give an On/OFF output for the presence /absence of smoke.
Optical Type :
The arrangement is a source of Light (say LED) is mounted in front of a photodiode or
a photocell or may be a photo resistor ,under no smoke condition the light falls on the
photo cell and a quiescent current flows in the circuit .when the smoke passes through the
light and the photo cell the current in the circuit varies sensing the smoke .the signal is
further processed and a switch action is generated for the presence or absence of smoke.
The Smoke Detector is tested an Aerosol spray from a smoke canister.

16

explain briefly the principles of deluge & form skid systems

These water deluge skids monitors the various plant wide process equipments with fixed

Temperature fusible plug back-pressure system. these skids instruments signals are connected
To the fire and gas august system. this deluge valve can be activated automatically through the
Fusible plug pressure switch and manually through pull handle, ITR & MCR push button station
For the compressor houses in the trains and receiving areas, it can be activated by local flame
Detectors as per the system logic. All the feedback signals are repeated in the MCR & other
Respective areas.

FOAM SKIDS:

These high expansion foam skids monitors the spill basins of LNG train process
And storages areas through the flame detectors and low temperature detectors fixed
Around the basin .the dedicated local panel operates few motor operated valves ( MOV ) and
Foam pump to mix the foam with the water to produce the rated foam and spreads over the
spill basin. These skids instrument signals are connected to the fire and gas system .the skid
can be initiated either by field detectors or from the ITR, MCR, local panel push button station
and the area pull handle device as per the system logic. All the feedback signals are repeated
in the MCR & other respective areas.
17

what is equivalent % volume of CH4 for 100% LEL ?

Test Gases are used to calibrate combustible Gas detectors ( 0 to 100% LEL).5% of

methane forms 100% LEL, if a test gas is marked (on the outside of the test cylinder) 2.5%
Of methane by Volume it forms 50% LEL, similarly if a test gas is marked (on the outside of
the test cylinder) 2% of methane by volume it forms 40% LEL.
In order to calibrate a combustible gas detector first we have to adjust zero (ideally in
nitrogen or any inert atmosphere or in the atmosphere where the gas detector is situated
well ventilated by air devoid of any combustible gas).then feed the test gas 2.5% or 2% of
methane by volume ,adjust span potentiometer so that the LEL meter reads 50% or 40% of
LEL ( as the can may be 2.5% or 2% of methane by volume).repeat adjusting zero and span
until no further adjustment is required.
18

explain the basic principle of the CO2 discharge system

CO2 Skids protect all the EDG, Turbo-compressor and gas turbine-compartments,

diesel operated fresh fire water pumps generator compartments, technical buildings. Fixed
bimetallic heat detectors and flame detectors monitor these compartments. Based on the
Package unit control panel voting system, the triggering mechanism will be activated and
dump the CO2 to the protected area. In case of gas turbine it also initiates the equipment
trip to protect the same. These system can be activated by local pull handles, ITR & MCR
push button station. All the feedback signals are repeated in the MCR & other respective
areas.
19

give the type of F&G gas detectors & systems you have worked with
Combustible gas detectors, flammable detectors, Low temperature detectors, open

path detectors, smoke detectors, H2S gas detectors, pull handle / call points, heat
detectors , Fire control panels & CO2 panels , SO2 gas detectors, Deluge skid Inst
.systems , Dry chemical powder instruments, RIM seal agent instruments, CO2 system

instruments, water monitor tower, ITM programs

20

what is the meaning of Exd & Exi in relation to equipment used in hazardous areas?
What benefits are there in using one or the other type?
Exd: Explosion proof equipment
Flame proof equipment is one in which if an explosion takes place inside the
equipment ,the hot gas that comes out of the enclosure gets sufficiently cooled by
the time the flue gas reaches the atmosphere so that the hot gas is incapable of
igniting the flammable gas in the atmosphere.
Exi :
An intrinsically safe device is on that is inherently incapable of producing energy
levels sufficient to ignite a flammable gas.
As an examble, Hydrogen requires 20 Micro-joules of energy for ignition.the
intrinsically safe device is incapable of generating 20 micro joules of energy.